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Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
December 14, 2009
(12/14/2009)
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* Growing Greener Is 10 Years Old And Facing An Uncertain Future

* Key Milestones In The Growing Greener Program

* December 20 Deadline For Last Growing Greener Anniversary Grants
The Growing Greener Watershed Restoration Program will be ten years old December 15 and to help celebrate 10 groups have come together to invite watershed groups to share their success stories on a special Growing Greener website.

* Gov. Rendell Warns Of More Possible Layoffs
At a press conference this week, Gov. Rendell warned there may be more state worker layoffs because of the drop in revenues below estimates for the year and the lack of final action by the General Assembly on a table games bill.

* Get Daily Updates On PA Environment Daily Blog, Twitter

* On the Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule

Here's the latest session schedule, Senate and House Calendars and Committee schedules--

* Senate/House Bills Moving

The following bills of interest saw action this week-- 

* Rep. George Introduces Bills To Help Protect Land, Water, Gas Royalties
Rep. Camille "Bud" George (D-Clearfield), Majority Chair of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, this week said he will unveil two measures designed to protect the Commonwealth and landowners as gas drilling expands in Pennsylvania's Marcellus Shale deposit.

* House Environmental Committee Hearing On Alternatives To Land Applying Sludge Dec. 16
The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee will hold a public hearing on alternatives to applying sewage sludge to land on December 16.

* December Issue Of Environmental Synopsis Spotlights Illegal Dump Cleanup
Illegal dump cleanups were highlighted in the December issue of the Environmental Synopsis published by the Joint Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee.

* Susquehanna River Basin Receives Donation To Start Marcellus Shale Monitoring
The Susquehanna River Basin Commission this week announced it will begin installing a monitoring network to continuously measure and report water quality conditions of smaller rivers and streams located in northern tier Pennsylvania and southern tier New York where Marcellus Shale natural gas wells are being drilled.

* Online Video- Sen. White, Sen. Yaw Host Tour Of Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Drilling Site

* Hearings Next Week On New Wastewater Standards For Drilling Operations, Sewage Plants
The Environmental Quality Board will hold four hearings next week on proposed regulations making changes in Total Dissolved Solids discharge standards prompted by concerns over natural gas drilling wastewater. (formal notice)

* Carnegie Mellon's Kelvin Gregory Leads Study Of Water Quality And Marcellus Shale Gas
Carnegie Mellon University's Kelvin Gregory is leading a research team developing a new treatment for cleaning water used in Marcellus Shale natural gas production.

* Philadelphia Geological Society Hosts Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Lecture December 17
The Philadelphia Geological Society is hosting a lecture on December 17 entitled, "The Marcellus Shale Gas Play: The Geological Perspective And Recent Developments."

* Federal Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Bill Will Generate Millions In Revenue For PA Farms

* Opinion- New Approaches, Resources Needed To Protect Streams, Chesapeake Bay And Farms
By Lamonte Garber, Chesapeake Bay Foundation
* American Farmland Trust Donates Nutrient Credits To Lancaster Farmland Trust
The American Farmland Trust this week donated 945 nutrient credits worth over $4,000 to the Lancaster Farmland Trust to help reduce nutrient pollution to the Chesapeake Bay.

* Bob Berich Named 2009 Farmer Of The Year By Westmoreland Conservation District
Bob Berich of South Huntingdon Township has been named 2009 “Farmer of the Year” by the Westmoreland Conservation District.

* 13 PA Farms OK'd For PATH To Organic Transition Program
Thirteen Pennsylvania farm families are working to transition to organic production through a program that provides funding, educational resources and other support, Acting Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said this week.

* McKean Conservation District Celebrates 50th Anniversary

* Yeadon Borough's Innovative Solution To Stormwater Runoff In Delaware County
Yeadon Borough, Delaware County and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council celebrated the completion of the Borough's Urban Stormwater Demonstration Projects on December 7.

* StormwaterPA Blog: PA Gets a Flunking Grade In Chesapeake Stormwater Network Scorecard

* EPA Accepting Comments On Kiski-Conemaugh River Watershed TMDL
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is now accepting comments on a proposed Total Maximum Daily Load watershed plan for the Kiskimminetas-Conemaugh River Watershed in Cambria County.

* PA American WaterWorks Assn. Sets Public Notification Workshops
The PA Chapter of the American WaterWorks Association has scheduled a series of workshops on public notification for drinking water systems in January.

* Save The Date: National Water System Optimization Conference In Hershey October 18-20
The American Waterworks Association is hosting the National Water System Optimization Conference in Hershey October 18-20.

* DCNR Increases State Park, State Forest Fees For 2010
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources published notice of fee increases for use of State Park and State Forest facilities effective January 1.

* The Nature Conservancy-PA, Blue Source Launch Forest Carbon For Private Landowners

* Natural Biodiversity Publishes Fall Edition Of Leaflet Newsletter
Natural Biodiversity has launched a new e-publication, called the Leaflet, designed to keep interested people up-to-date on land stewardship issues and news, as well as Natural Biodiversity happenings.

* 2010 Farm Show To Showcase The Best of Pennsylvania Agriculture, Offer Family Fun
From sheep shearing and cow milking to mushroom munching and milkshake sipping, the 2010 Pennsylvania Farm Show will offer something to interest every visitor, said Acting Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding.

* Pennsylvania Preserves Additional 3,332 Acres Of Farmland
Pennsylvania’s nation-leading farmland preservation program this week set aside an additional 3,332 acres on 31 farms for permanent agricultural production, said Acting Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding.

* Pittsburgh's Liberty Tire Recycling Applauds Study Validating Safety Of Crumb Rubber Infill
Pittsburgh-based Liberty Tire Recycling this week praised the findings of a recently released U.S. Environmental Protection Agency study showing crumb rubber infill used in athletic fields and playground surfaces has concentrations of materials below levels considered harmful.

* PA CleanWays Volunteers Cleanup Fulton County Illegal Dumpsite
PA CleanWays, with funding provided by the Rural Utilities Programs, U. S. Department of Agriculture, conducted an illegal dumpsite cleanup on November 7 in Thompson Township in Fulton County.

* Game Commission Urges Participation In Christmas Bird Count December 14-January 5
Game Commission officials are urging wildlife enthusiasts to join the tens of thousands of volunteers throughout the United States in the Audubon Society’s 110th Annual Christmas Bird Count, which will take place December 14, through January 5.

* Ashkar Elementary, Lycoming County Honored By EPA For Superior Energy Efficiency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency this week presented Joseph C. Ashkar Elementary School in Lycoming County with an Energy Star label for being among the top 25 percent energy efficient school buildings nationwide.

* PUC Expands Role In Competitive Electric Market Oversight

* Nearly $20 Million In Federal Funds Available For Wind Energy Projects In PA
Gov. Rendell announced this week $19.8 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding is now available for large-scale wind projects.

* DEP Seeks Green Energy Revolving Loan Fund Manager
The Department of Environmental Protection is seeking a fund manager for a new $12 million revolving loan fund to support energy saving and renewable energy projects.

* PA's PFBC Carbon Capture Technology Set For Showcase In Copenhagen
As international leaders gather for the United Nations climate change summit in Copenhagen, one southwestern Pennsylvania clean energy company, PFBC Environmental Energy Technology, will be among those represented at a two-day technology exposition to showcase cutting-edge solutions to the global climate challenge.

* PPG Joins U.S. Department Of Energy Save Energy Now LEADER Program

* New Scholarships Help 10 Penn State Students To Dream Green
Developing new ideas to make our world more environmentally friendly will take creative imagination and out-of-the-box dreaming. Ten Penn State students have received financial support to pursue their "greenest" dreams with $5,000 scholarships from a professional football team and a pharmaceutical manufacturer.

* EPA's 2008 Toxics Release Inventory Shows PA Had 13 Million Pound Reduction
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency this week released the 2008 Toxics Release Inventory which shows Pennsylvania had a 13 million pound (8 percent) reduction in on and off-site releases of chemicals covered by the Inventory from 2007 to 2008.

* Opportunity To Bid On A DEP Mine Reclamation Project In Clarion County
The Department of Environmental Protection published notice of an opportunity to bid on a mine reclamation project in Clarion County.

* In Memoriam- Thomas M. Gerusky, Former Director DEP Bureau Of Radiation Protection Passes
Former Director of the DEP Bureau of Radiation Protection Tom Gerusky passed away this week at the age of 74.

* Opinion- Federal Funding for River Basin Commissions Is In National Interest
By Paul O. Swartz, Susquehanna River Basin Commission
* Grants & Awards

This section gives you a heads up on upcoming deadlines for grants and financial assistance as well as nominations for awards and other recognition programs.  NEW means from last week— 

* Quick Clips
Here’s a selection of NewsClips on environmental topics from around the state--

* Marcellus Shale NewsClips
Here's a selection of NewsClips on topics related to Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling--

* Watershed NewsClips
Read a sampling of NewsClips on watershed topics from around Pennsylvania.

* Regulations, Technical Guidance & Permits

* Calendar Of Events

Upcoming conferences, meetings, workshops, plus links to other online calendars.  Meetings are in Harrisburg unless otherwise noted. NEW indicates new from last week.   Go To: PA Environment Digest Calendar Page 

* Stories Invited

Send your stories about environmental issues, programs and positive actions to PA Environment Digest - DHess@CrisciAssociates.com. 

* Supporting Member PA Outdoor Writers Assn./PA Trout Unlimited
PA Environment Digest is a supporting member of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association, Pennsylvania Trout Unlimited and the Doc Fritchey Chapter Trout Unlimited.

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